Grand Theft Auto Takes on Republicans!

For fans of the franchise, I think you would agree that the Grand Theft Auto game is anything but subtle. Rockstar developers, the company that makes Grand Theft Auto, have tackled many taboo topics, but it seems they are poised to take on an even more dangerous issues, Republicans. No, that's not a typo, you read it correctly. Next generation technology has led to many new visual gags and innuendos in this latest incarnation of Grand Theft. One such feature gives the player the opportunity to watch television broadcasts which parody reality television,  the American obsession with celebrity, and the Grand ol' Party. One of the spoof television shows follows the path of three futuristic space traveling Republicans, ridding the world one planet at a time of "insurgent" alien races. Along the way there are references to repressed homosexuality, illegal military occupation, and something that resembles "straight talk". When the three Republican crusaders come across a well-spokenand highly intelligent alien race, they are unable to process his "fancy talk" and decide to shoot him instead of liberate him from the oppressive bondage he faces on his home world. Oh, and did I mention that the space shuttle our heroes travel around in takes the shape of a giant penis? Put that in your pipe and smoke it. I'm sure that this latest content addition to the already controversial series will only take a few more play-throughs before it starts making headlines from New York to San Diego. Just remember where you heard it first! Put it this way, I am a political independent, and if I were a Republican I'd be pissed. Nothing like labeling all Republicans as repressed homosexual, angry, and unintelligent. I found myself, mouth agape, wondering what ever happened to the complex and encoded narratives? Whatever happens, this is simply too good to miss. 

Get to know our Sailors.

In Iraq we often hear about the Marines and the Army. Rare is the time we get to hear about our sailors and the role they play in defending the nation. Enter PBS's Carrier. This 10-parter takes us inside the USS Nimitz to get to know what life on an Aircraft carrier is like. Not only do we get a sense of the daily grind, we get to know the people that sign up to sail around the roof shooting planes of the deck.

What strikes me in watching it so far is the commonality of the people who join up. These are men and women, generally from tough backgrounds who almost chose a darker path. Instead they chose to join the Navy and help defend the nation after 9/11.

Take a look at the website, and if you can check it out on your local PBS station. It's a great look into military life and those that lead it.

Maybe Brooks was right.

Have we reached an age where we lack fact?

When a blog like huffington post can publish as prominently as the NY Times, when anyone can photoshop any image, when anyone can edit together any clips to make nearly anyone say nearly anything, are we living in a fact-less world? This question of course has already been posed by folks smarter than I.

But I wonder if you can't take the logic of that question and apply it to Brooks' thesis. He posits essentially there are demographic blocks that hold immovable beliefs because of their social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. In a society that's far less homogeneous than our parents and certainly our grandparents' demographic groups and by extension voting bloc's are creating their own reality.

If I am a staunch liberal, I can get my news from the NY Times, watch Keith Olberman, and read books by Al Gore. Sources like the evening news may portray stories I don't like or agree with, but I can chalk it up to knowing that a particular source is owned by Rupert Murdoch, or that they are being run by the corporate media.

If I'm a staunch conservative, I can read the Wall Street Journal, watch Sean Hannity, and read books by Bill O'Reilly. Source like the evening news may portray stories I don't like or agree with, but I can chalk it up to corporate media being slaves to the liberal bias.

But in the age of the internet it's far worse than that. I can ensconce myself in ideological blogs and podcasts, the echo-chamber effect. And when empirical evidence begins to pop up that my ideology or political leader might not be right, I can simply recreate reality through unfounded stories and minority reports. We see this currently with the public reaction to the Bush Administration, no one can defend the results this administration as wrought, so the Conservative blogosphere has simply tapped into the idea that W was not conservative enough. And the liberals in congress forced his hand.

This modern media landscape is having a profound effect in the Democratic Primary. Barack Obama is simply elitist. A man raised by a single mother, who only paid off his law school degree a few years ago is out of touch. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton who lived in the Governor's mansion for 12 years and the White House for 8, and has since made $109 million is somehow a woman of the people. Why? Because that's the narrative particular demographic groups have set up for themselves. And in this new media landscape, opinion matters as much as fact, perception as much as reality, and no one has to acknowledge something they don't believe.

The Internet for all it's power to share information, might actually be encouraging people to pull further into their demographic an ideological enclaves than explore others.

Society as we know it will end!

For those of you that are living in a hole let me be the first to tell you that perhaps you should dust off your Y2K gear in preparation for the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. The game has basically been blamed for every social ill in the last ten years, and while I have not had a chance to see it's new content, I am sure that some conservative parental group will soon be lobbying hard for its removal from shelves to preserve the innocence of our youth. I have never bought into the negative press against the Grand Theft Auto series, and personally I find it offensive that individuals would blame a video game for downright poor parenting. I can't tolerate another round of self righteous parents who blame video games for everything that is wrong with America. My advice would be as such. If you think the game is crap, then don't buy it for your child. If you are "duped" into buying the game for your child then you lack the parenting skills to have children. If you are personally turned off by the game, once again, don't buy it. I don't push my religion on you, don't push your family values on me. 

First Take: Obama on the ropes over Wright

Barack Obama is on the ropes today after his vigorous denouncement of Rev. Wright's comments. A quick read of the comment boards shows citizens lining up in two camps. Those who think Obama harbors some of Wright's feelings and has been hiding it (the majority) and the Obama supporters who think this is just a huge distraction.

One thing is certain. This mess has dethroned Obama from the place of hope and new politics he was in a year or even 6 months ago. Obama needs to explain his association with Rev. Wright, and give a sit down interview with a real journalist for an extended period and explain his relationship with Wright. Frankly, I would recommend the "Full Ginsburg." Obama's speech on race was eloquent and a perfect description of race relations in America. But people want to know more about Obama and Wright could have been so close for so long if Wright harbored all these policies Obama despised. I am not the only voter that wants an explanation.

Rev. Wright resurfaces, Obama has to lay the smack down

Rev. Wright refused to go quietly. In deciding to speak again for the National Press Club Wright defended his incindiary remarks and stuck to his guns. Claiming that the US government created AIDS and dispatched it to the African American community. Barack Obama has effectively tossed Wright under the bus.

For two takes, I offer George Will, who thinks it's the right of all Obama's political oppostion to use Wright against him all season. And Eugene Robinson who wanted to give Wright the benefit of the doubt, but now thinks he needs to go.

We'll have more on policythought as the day progresses.

Tuesday Brooks Day: Its the demographics stupid

Today Brooks explains his theory that campaigns have stopped mattering and its demographics that now rule the race. Give him a read and see if you agree.

A Better Case Against Global Warming

Need a better reason to fight climate change than Al Gore's "We Can Solve It?" Try this compelling case from Reese's. Mmm...

Roger Simon: Get (Less) Smart

Roger Simon over at politico has a great critique of the race since Pennsylvania. He lampoons the way we need our candidates to play down to masses. Look to see if it shifts media focus, as politico has tended to drive the nature of coverage this season.

The Separation between?

I am not an irreligious person. I have a faith, but I choose to keep it as a private matter. I believe strongly in a separation between church and state, but more importantly between faith and policy. That's why I was so strongly against CNN's Compassion Forum. The constituion provides that there shall be "no religious test" to hold any elected office. Well reading through the transcript (linked above) it certainly seems like the candidates were jumping over some kind of hurdle...

BROWN: Let's talk about your faith. And we warned people the questions tonight would be pretty personal. So I want to ask you. You said in an interview last year that you believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. And you have actually felt the presence of the Holy Spirit on many occasions. Share some of those occasions with us. CLINTON: You know, I have, ever since I've been a little girl, felt the presence of God in my life......

And Later...

MEACHAM: Senator, we've heard about HIV/AIDS. Many people here are concerned about Darfur and a number of other humanitarian issues. Why do you think it is that a loving God allows innocent people to suffer? CLINTON: Well... (LAUGHTER) MEACHAM: And we just have 30 seconds.

But Senator Clinton wasn't the only one to put her faith out there for all of us to gawk at...

MEACHAM: Senator, do you believe that God intervenes in history and rewards or punishes people or nations in real time for their behavior? OBAMA: You know, what I believe is that God intervenes, but that his plans are a little too mysterious for me to grasp....

And Later...


BROWN: We are almost out of time. I asked the same question to Senator Clinton, though. And it's that there are a lot of Americans who believe the conversation going on here tonight is not necessarily appropriate. They believe that religion has far too much influence in public life. What do you say to that? OBAMA: Well, you know, what I've written in the past, what I've -- I actually spoke at a Sojourner's forum two years ago on this precise issue. And I think that we have fallen into a false debate....

False debate indeed. Holy Spirit? Does God allow innocents to suffer? While CNN and the rest of the cable networks clamor to fill our air time. We forget that it's precious. Candidates need not regail us with their feelings on matters of faith...they are indeed private. Why does CNN choose to fill its air time with a Compassion Forum where the candidates can compete over who has the best faith, instead of a Climate Change forum where they can compete to solve the worst problem in human history? I have no doubt Senators Clinton, Obama, and McCain are people of faith, but I really don't care. I need a candidate that is going to pray in private and lead in public. We all revere President Kennedy for his speech concerning catholicism and how it would not matter in his White House, 40 years later we clamor to make sure our candidates pass false religious tests.

Teaching our Children Intolerance

Let's lay out a hypothetical situation. A moderate Jewish American leader is chosen to lead a new school in which students will be taught in English and Hebrew in order to facilitate cultural understanding. They will learn history with a global perspective, and religion will only have a place in their global studies courses along with other religions. The board consists of Israeli organizations who support the school, as well as well-respected religious leaders from different religions. Would there be an outrage over such a proposition? If the school was considering offering kosher meal options in the cafeteria, would there be an uproar? A fear that the school would be forcing the Jewish religion into the political sphere? Would newspapers try to dig up dirt on the well-known moderate jewish professional chosen to be principal? If this sounds ridiculous to you, and I hope it does, then take note of the fate that has befallen Debbie Almontaser and the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, as reported in the New York Times. Her school was meant to teach children tolerance and foster a better understanding of Arab nations and history. Students would learn Arabic as part of their curriculum (an important lesson as our government needs more people with those skills, and businesses increasingly court places like Dubai). Instead, the prejudices and suspicious attitudes of citizens and media outlets have needlessly destroyed her reputation and credibility. A woman once revered for her moderate consensus building, painted an extremist, killing her vision of understanding. We cannot write it off as being distant, or a product of small town mentality. This is the proclaimed melting pot of NYC, and if there can be no tolerance here, that is a symptom of a serious problem. And so we are trapped in another cycle of suspicion and prejudice. And as once the Jewish were subject to these same close-minded attitudes, it is the Arabs' and Muslims' turn.

True Patriotism

You may or may not be familiar with Air Force Colonel Morris Davis-but his courage speaks to me of a patriotism that runs far deeper than flag pins and high rhetoric.  As TIME magazine so succinctly reported, Davis was the chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay who resigned last fall and who may be testifying in defense of those who he would have been prosecuting.  The reason?  Because top Pentagon officials interfered with the system for political reasons, going against the values this nation was founded upon.  The notion of justice and equality--where every man has a right to defend himself--was jeopardized when these officials tried to use the system to gain political benefits or "drum up public support" for a war that was rapidly losing popularity.  The tragedy of this is that this testimony may now be used as a defense of prisoners that should rightly be convicted because of their actual involvement in terrorist activities.  But I do not blame Davis for that unfortunate side effect.  No, instead I applaud him for being a true American, for defending our values of freedom and justice no matter how difficult the situation.  Guantanamo has already served up images of America to the rest of the world that stray far from who we are.  Our president, politicians, and officials have disgraced our beautiful country by betraying our core values.  I am proud that a man has the strength to stand up and tell the truth against those more powerful than himself, and that the world will see we live in a country that allows and applauds such bravery.  Greater patriotism there is not.  A better example of what America is, there is not.  And I only can hope there will be a time in the near future when all our leaders embody these same qualities.  

Stop Talking about 100 Years

Here's a piece of advice for Democrats when it comes to fighting John McCain. Stop talking about the "100 years" comment. Watch the attack ad below.



I realize the war is unpopular. I also recognize that most Americans want us out of Iraq. So this kind of comment seems tailor-made for attack ads. However, what it really does is serve McCain a soft volley to hammer back. McCain's comment referred to the kind of security situation we have with Japan, South Korea, Germany, etc. When the Democrats make this their primary talking point they are serving McCain's argument that the dems really don't understand national security and if they did they wouldn't have taken his comments so vastly out of context.

If the Democrats want to win swing voters they need to explain that they understand the military and how it is used. This kind of nonsense won't past the McCain defense's muster.

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wright?

We are a sound-bite driven nation. Our media gives us 20-30 second sound bites from our most controversial figures and then tells the American people what to think about the words they've said. This week Bill Moyers of PBS landed an exclusive interview with Reverend Jeremiah Wright a name many Americans weren't familiar with until the sound bites of his sermons became known nationally after it was made public that he was the pastor and spiritual adviser to Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.

The link is above, I encourage you to watch the entire 1/2 hour or read the transcript and get a sense for the entirety of this man. The sound bites that were made national fodder, were often the emotional peaks given to sermons that many people might agree with. Moyers gives him a chance to define his philosophy. I for one felt I had finally seen the other side of the story. Give it a look.

The national past time

I didn't manage to post anything on the blog last night. I was too busy enjoying our nation's past time. My beloved Mets lost to the hated Braves 6-3.

But let me tell you the outcome didn't matter at all to this kid from Queens. Being out in the chilly spring air, eating peanuts and drinking soda, hoping to see Jose Reyes fly around the base pads was enough for me. I was surround by loved ones watching a game that was meant to be see in person and not on a TV screen.

So I guess that's the point of this post. Pack some sandwiches, buy some cheap seats and head out to a game of two this season. It's our nation's passtime and I think we'd all feel a little bit better if we got out to the ballpark.

Paying Attention to the World Arena

As we in the US continue to fret over the he said, she said pettiness that our presidential primary has unfortunately been whittled down to, there are greater things to take note of in the world. On the BBC's front page is the story of a bus bombing in Sri Lanka. It is unfortunate that the American media have relegated this somber news to a small byline on the bottom of the page. Why should we be concerned over Sri Lanka? Because there are things to learn from the global stage, and the historical undertones that may have caused them. It is important to note that Sri Lanka is still suffering the consequences of a civil war that began in 1983. They still are losing loved ones in senseless bombings decades later. And that this could be a presage of what we have perpetuated in Iraq.

NCLB: George Will's Take

Education has been an important topic for us lately on the blog. I wanted to put up this column from George Will at the Washington Post. Will offers his insight into why we're falling behind.

Dems Fighting Words!

The Democrats have fired off their first shots at Senator McCain with this TV spot. Smart to keep some sort of offensive while Obama and Clinton battle it out amongst themselves, but is it enough? Guess we'll have to wait and see. But from a strictly messaging POV, I think this does a great job of reinforcing the theory that McCain might indeed be a four-year extension of the Bush agenda.

Getting it Right in Iraq

One of the most difficult things to deal with as a citizen thinking about Iraq is the constant one-way version of the story we seem to get. Whether complaint or skeptical, the media only deals with one point of view on Iraq, that of our government. That's not fair and balanced, its not even objective. It's just a simple way to minimize investment in actual news gathering and focus reporting on what you are already being fed. It also underserves the American public trying to suss out what is really going on in Iraq.

Enter the McClatchy group. They have been one of the few news organizations consistently taking risks and working from within Iraq to give the most complete picture of what's going on in Iraq. I listened to an interview this morning by Bill Moyers of Leila Fadel, the 26 year-old McClatchy Baghdad bureau chief. You can catch the transcript here, or listen to the podcast. The best part of her reporting is that its agenda free. There's little discussion of what "should" be happening or what's right and wrong, her reporting simply attempts to explain who the players are and what the ingredients are in the soup that is Iraq.

The Moyers interview is a great start, but you can also go straight to the source. Fadel and her staff maintain a daily blog relaying what life is like for the the people living in Iraq. It's a riveting read, and if I were made head of a major news outlet tomorrow. It would be required listening daily on my network. Give it a read here, and rest assured it will be on our blog roll.

This is why I'm Fat.

New York City is not a progressive as California, but we like to experiment too. One of our recent jaunts has been down the road of informing people of just how fat they get when they eat fattening things. A law that was passed but is still waiting to be enforced based on how the appeal goes, would for any restaurant chain in NY with more that 15 outlets to post calorie information for their menu as prominently as the price.

On first blush I was positive on the law. I thought it was a good way to inform people of what the risks were when they chowed down on a Big Mac. Then it hit me. Do we as Americans need the restaurant we dine in to inform us of just exactly how many calories we're slamming down our gullots? More importantly, as a matter of principle, why is it McDonald's responsibility to take care of me? I'm an adult, I ought to know the difference between an egg McMuffin and a veggie omelet. Children ought not be eating Micky D's on the way home from school, they should have dinner waiting for them. Oh wait, they can't have dinner waiting for them because their parents need to support them. You wanna make a healthier society and healthier children? Pay people more and give parents the opportunity to stay home and be parents. I don't need McDonald's telling me what to do.

Now if you excuse me there is a pint of Haagen-Daaz with my name on it.

Earth Day, What we didn't Say

Marc, Mike, and I each took a crack at Earth day a couple of days ago. We talked about the little things we could do on Earth Day and throughout the year to get a little greener and make the world a more livable place.

What we didn't talk about is what the government can do. Frankly, what the government MUST do. I believe in this country. I believe in our ability to rise to challenges. We did it to stop the Nazis, we did it to win the space race, we did it to defeat the Soviet Union. I believe that we can beat Global Warming. I believe we can also rid ourselves of the carbon economy and create a new future for ourselves and the rest of the world. While we try and squeak and squirm out of our way of protocols like the Kyoto treaty, what we should be doing is leading the way.

I often imagine the next president, whoever he or she is delivering an address from the Oval office, similar to that of President Kennedy's moon landing speech. "Before 2020 this nation will end the use of all fossil fuels in automobiles." It would be an easy argument to make, the petroleum economy isn't meant to last. Even if you don't believe in global warming, on the sheer economics of it, don't we want a diversified fuel base? Automobiles that could run on hydrogen or plug in? Don't we want the option? Or would we prefer to be tethered to gasoline forever?

We need a bold agenda, and a deadline. Only then will Americans collectively move on from their fossil fuel burning ways. Then all of the sudden or competitors would see our economy booming as green collar jobs flood our marketplace and Americans begin to run their homes on energy gained from the sun and wind and rivers. As America leaps into the 21st century, our competitors would see us unencumbered by oil prices and decide that their own fate shouldn't rest with OPEC, but within its own borders.

It can be done. It must be done.

It's'a Mario! And He's Called a Cab'a for You'a!

I'll admit, I take too many taxis at night when I should just take the subway like a good, green citizen. But it's hard to stick to my guns when my favorite fireball hurling, kart riding, mushroom addicted friend of Princess Daisy is paying for cabs in New York today to promote Mario Kart for the Wii.

According to AdWeek, " The popular video game character will be hailing cabs for midtown Manhattan commuters in the morning and during lunch to promote the launch of the Mario Kart Wii racing game. The costumed character will appear near the Sheraton Hotel on Seventh Avenue and 52nd Street."

Cute promo. Not very green. But racing leads me to a larger green/sustainability question: In a fuel crisis, how can we justify NASCAR? Something to ponder for another time.

Quick Hit: Obama not working class enough?

Just had a question for the policy thinkers out there. Is there something fundamentally different between working class Iowa and working-class Pennsylvania? I guess what I mean is the people of Iowa met Obama face to face and deemed him working class enough for them. Why is it different in Pennsylvania? What's changed?

A Pennsylvanian's Take on the Primary from Hell

I barely have enough strength to eloquently argue my true feelings on the primary results from last night's Pennsylvania primary. To be honest, I would support either candidate, despite my preference for Barack Obama. Anybody would be better than John McCain, which will amount to essentially a third term for George W. Bush. My stomach became more sick with every percentage point that Hillary Clinton picked up. Not only because I prefer Obama, but also because the large margin of victory ensures that the Democratic nomination is far from decided. If you listened carefully you could actually hear the tear in the Democratic party get larger last night. Analysis of the voter breakdown displays yet again the deep divide that exists amongst Dems. Individuals 18-29 and African American voters were clearly for Obama, while the elderly, blue-collar, Catholics favored Hillary. As many of my compatriots have eloquently stated in earlier blogs, this election is centered around race and age. Damn, even Ed Rendell weighed in and said Pennsylvanians would have a problem with electing a Black man. Twenty nine percent of "Bitter" Hillary supporters (in Pennsylvania) said they would vote for McCain rather than vote for Obama. Sixteen percent of the Barack faithful would prefer the G.O.P candidate than vote for a Democrat who can elude sniper fire. Some top Democrats say that this infighting will actually produce a stronger candidate in November, but the statistics say otherwise. Let's hypothetically say that this goes all the way to the Convention and the Superdelegates make the final decision (which it probably will). Can you honestly tell me that either side will be happy with the result?  I have traditionally held back on my list of "things I think must happen" but I figure what the hell, so here they are:

1. Howard Dean, get some Kiwi's and get tough on these Superdelegates. Sitting on the fence till the end of the game and choosing a candidate in a smoke filled room will not sit well with the voting public.

2. John Edwards, please find the voice I know you have in you and support somebody. Please be the King (or Queen) maker. At this point, jeopardizing your chance as VP will be a mute point if McCain wins the election.

3. Hillary, stop calling plays from the Karl Rove playbook. I know you say, "it's what he'll have to face in the fall." Why give the Republicans more ammunition than they will already have. Only two months ago, the G.O.P had no idea how to deal with Barack, now they not only have the blueprint, they will just recycle your campaign ads.

4. Barack, I know you're all about the politics of "Hope" and "Change", but if you don't change your tactics, you're going to look weak to top party officials. You worked way too hard to lose it all at the end.

I fear that the Democrats cannot endure another six weeks of the "low-road to victory". If somebody doesn't wise up soon, we Americans can get used to two simple words, "President McCain." Tell me that doesn't send shivers down your spine.

Frat Boys for Obama

This is all abuzz on the ad blogs today: check out the three guys behind Obama at his concession speech last night. Is this a guerrilla marketing coup? An endorsement? Or just three douche bags who realize they might get more girls by impressing them with their politics and not their beer pong skills?

Sick of it, yet?

Alright, I'll come out and say it.

I'm sick of it too.

I'm sick of the back-biting, the name calling, the not-so-thinly-veiled references. I am sick of them, and I am a self-confessed politics junkie. It's not that I think Hillary should just quit already. I've written before, and still believe she has every right to continue the race. She even has a semi-plausible path to the nomination. She can hope that her campaign, the McCain Campaign, and the fox news team can find more damaging things about Obama, enough damaging things that will give the super delegates pause and make them switch their alliance to her side. It could happen, and I say that not mockingly.

The answer here of course lies with Obama, not Clinton. The narrative continues to swirl around her, despite her narrow path to victory. Obama should start to play the front-runner in this race. Acknowledge he still has a nomination to win, but get back to basics. "When I'm this party's nominee, I will do....." He has allowed Clinton to drag him down to her tit-for-tat level, and its time for him to stop. If he elevates his rhetoric and lets the Clinton machine simply sputter out, its the best thing he can do.

So enough about Rev. Wright, the weathermen, flag pins, and sniper fire. It's time to start framing this debate as why democratic proposals and principles are stronger for the bulk of the nation than republican ones. Time to start fighting on policy and forgetting about politics.

Stadium building....

If you haven't already, start reading It Get's Through Buckner! a great sports blog from policythought reader Bryan Pol. The following was going to be a comment on his post Washington Baseball Economics, but it got so long-winded that I decided to take a break from endless primary coverage and talk a little sports and a little civics....

Sports arenas have been both a boon and a boondoggle for American cities in the past. I was for proposed west side stadium here in Manhattan, not really because I wanted to see the Jets come back to the boroughs but because NY needs a world-class convention center, which the stadium would have provided. Alas, that deal was struck down for other, economically solid reasons.

While Bryan makes a great argument about education I have an even simpler one. Essentially stadiums are touted as an improvement to city-wide infrastructure. Especially in the case of baseball, a new stadium attracts people it at least 81 times a year and boosts business. But if we're talking about infrastructure, why not talk about the flagging infrastructure of most major American metropolises? Urban populations are climbing and urban roadways are crumbling. Traffic statistics are through the roof. If the goal is to improve city wide infrastructure and improve the climate for local businesses-why not build some more roads?

I think the answer is sports arenas are far less expensive (relatively), and pose far less short-term headache than rebuilding a highway structure. So it becomes a way to "improve infrastructure" without all the heavy lifting of actually improving infrastructure.

Penn Primary- I've seen this movie before.

Yes, you too have seen this movie before. Hillary bobbed and weaved
through round 12 (of 15) of this heavyweight title fight to survive.

The boxing analogy I think is appropriate because on most judges score
cards Hillary is down on points and doesn't have enough rounds to make
up the spread. So the fight goes on because she as a right to keep of
going. But unless she scores a knockout or Obama punches himself out-
the judges (super delegates) will likely call it for Obama. If they
don't the crowd will go nuts.

Dan Balz on what John McCain will need to do this summer and fall

Dan Balz, one of the best political writers in the business lays out what he believes John McCain must do to win the White House. Balz's take is that McCain needs to brand himself a "different Republican." He looks at the numbers of generic Democrat versus generic Republican and sees no way to fight for party orthodoxy and win.

I see his argument but we see in McCain's Sunday morning talk show appearances that he's not going to frame the race as being a "different Republican" but being a "true conservative." The argument he is building and will continue to build is not that President Bush was wholly wrong, but that he didn't fully realize conservatism. We see this most clearly on the taxes argument. The problem is not that Bush cut taxes twice while prosecuting two expensive wars, its that he didn't cut spending...so says McCain. A real conservative keeps taxes AND spending low.

Look for that to be the argument this fall.

Looking Ahead to the Race and the other Race

I realize I posted this link once before already today. But I was so blown away by the article I wanted to post the link again and take a moment to comment on it. Roger Simon of politico takes some polling results and writes a stunning synopsis of why Obama will inevitably have a ceiling in the general election as the likely Democratic nominee. According to an AP/Yahoo! poll 8% of registered white voters are uncomfortable voting for a black man. The same poll found that 15% of respondents thought that Obama was a muslim despite the whole Rev. Wright scandal.

What fascinated me about reading the number 8% is that it didn't shock me. Not even a little. As I drove through Alabama and Mississippi on my way to New Orleans two years ago I met some of those 8%. But I also met them at the local roller rink in Queens, NY. Across this country those 8% are alive and well and they are just the percentage that was willing to admit it to a pollster.

The bottom line is we live in a country that is not beyond the racial divide yet. I wonder if having a black president could change that.

He Starved a Dog for Art

You can't go near Facebook these days without seeing from one of your friends this group dedicated to stopping a Central American artist named Guillermo Vargas from starving a dog to death as a piece of installation art.

The viral attention the story has gotten strikes me as interesting. First, you can join the facebook group dedicated to stopping the guy. You can sign one of two online petitions (here and here) to stop the guy. The online petitions have gained at least 2 million signatures and the facebook group now has over 340,000 members. All because a puppy is involved, and we all love puppies.

I find it interesting that we think it our online civic duty to petition this artist in a country other than the United States to stop torturing animals for his own purposes. Yet, we aren't fighting to make OUR government stop torturing HUMANS for its own purposes.

Now I'm not supporting the guy, I think its a sick experiment in artwork that is really just animal cruelty. But it makes me wonder, if the Amnesty international ad Mike posted used a dog as the victim instead of a man, how fast would the online petitions grow?

UPDATE: I had thought this was an online hoax, but here is the artist's blog and apparently the act is real.

It's Easy Being Green!

I just checked and Yahoo is running their own Top 10 List of things you can do to to live Green. While there is some overlap from this blog to their site, you can find some more intricate ideas, and some that are more costly than what we've suggested. I encourage you to check it out, cause the more informed we are, the better off we will be. 

Think You Know What Waterboarding Is? Think Again.

On Earth Day, we need to remember how important sustainable water is. Water is the very breathe of life. Unless it's being used to simulate death by drowning, as in this U.K. commercial from Amnesty International. Amnesty rep Kate Allen tells the Daily Telegraph, “Our film shows you what the CIA doesn’t want you to see—the disgusting reality of half-drowning a person then calling it ‘enhanced interrogation.’” Read more at unsubscribe-me.org From all I'd read, I thought I could imagine the horrors of waterboarding. Seeing this commercial suddenly made it real for me. WARNING: this is a highly effective ad, meaning that it might be a little too graphic for some viewers.

Deja Vu?

As a last effort before voters head to the polls in PA today, the candidates are doing their best to differentiate themselves as the best choice for president. As part of her effort, Hilary Clinton highlighted and underlined her position on Iran according to this BBC news report. In short, she would "obliterate" them if they launched an attack on Israel. Now, I am not about to argue against protecting our interests in this region, but we have to do it as prudently as possible. Our current situation in Iraq is an example of why. Perhaps this attitude on display now serves as a reminder of the same gung-ho pro-war/retaliation attitude that made Hilary Clinton vote for the Iraq war in the first place. Or perhaps it shows how she can be swayed by what she sees as the most politically prudent thing of the moment. I surmise that when she voted on Iraq, she did it partly so that she wouldn't seem weak in a post-9/11 U.S. (especially as she would be running for President in a few years). When the war because unpopular, and the evidence of its misdirection became blatant, she suddenly turned into a staunch critic. And when President Bush made comments similar to her current ones about retaliation on Iran if they obtained and used nuclear weapons, she was all up in a dander about his statements and how it would have to receive new authorization by Congress.

So, what is it, Hilary? Is President Bush wrong for suggesting forceful retaliation against Iran or right?

I also find it interesting that she complains about her media coverage, and suddenly the media is focusing on Obama's "bitter" comment in great, minute detail and ignoring her war-mongering comments--both this one and her umbrella retaliation brought forth in the latest debate.

Are we so enamoured with political melodrama and gossip that we are willing to overlook these serious diplomatic policy statements? Am I the only one worried that all this haste for "obliterating" feels mighty familar?

Politico gains some perspective

Ben Smith took a moment on his blog to discuss why Hillary Clinton still drives the narrative of the democratic primary. It's a good read, and gives some perspective to how we pay attention to politicians.

And Roger Simon takes a scary look at the possible inherent racism of the American electorate.

My Earth Day Contribution

Marc gave helpful tips. James offered up some green cues from his lighting design practice. My turn, I guess, to highlight a green initiative from my every day - and it's one that'll save you money, too. It's called a commuter/transit benefits program - and if you don't have one, you should ask your employer about offering one.

For more than 20 years now, there has been IRS legislation in place that lets you set aside pre-tax salary (money you're paid before taxes are taken out...like when you take out money for a 401k) that can be used to pay for transit and commuter parking.

One of the most popular commuter benefits programs is the original, TransitChek. Offered by TransitCenter, the non-profit advocate for transit, TransitChek saves commuters up to $500 or more a year on transit...and up to $1300 if you deduct for transit and commuter parking. And if that's not a good enough reason for you, tell your employer he/she saves on payroll taxes for every employee who signs up for the program - so the benefit usually pays for itself. Plus, everyone benefits by reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and the harmful greenhouse gases that cause global warming. (If I sound a little like a commercial, in the interest of full disclosure, it's because TransitCenter is one of my agency's clients - so I write about this a lot).

So, that's what I got. And may your every day be a happy Earth day.

NCLB Follow Up

Some of you might have followed the debate that played out here on policythought concerning No Child left behind...if not it started here, then continued here and here. This morning I came across this article on MSNBC concerning some tweaks the President and department of education are planning. As if we are all on the same page NY Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote this column on the state of American High School ed.

Thoughts...you know what to do.

Earth Day Follow Up

Following up on Marc's Earth Day post I wanted to supply this link to another blog I maintain (far less frequently) on lighting design. It's my own little guide to Compact Fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. If anyone has any questions on how to eek out more effeciency from their home lighting let me know....

Happy Earth Day!

Amidst all this election talk, many people may have overlooked the fact that today is earth day. I must admit that I am a recent convert to environmentalism (3 years) and I wish I had more money to make my house completely Green, but I wanted to take some time today to share some basic tips that everybody could do to make a huge impact.

1. When you go shopping, if you have to take plastic bags DO NOT throw them away. They take centuries to biodegrade in landfills. You can recycle them and some stores will take them back.

2. Use cold water to wash your laundry. They still come clean!

3. Make sure you have Energystar appliances. Not only are they newer and probably smell better for than that old fridge, but they use way less energy.

4. Use a powerstrip to connect your electronic appliances and turn them off at the source. Standby power can be wasteful energy.

5. Buy organic fruits and veggies! They're delish. 

6. Replace chemicals with natural home cleaning products. Clorox has a brand new line of natural cleaning products. They get the job done and smell wonderful. Healthier for you too.

7. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth,  shave, or wash dishes.

8. Carpool or use mass transit to get to work. This will help your wallet and the earth.

9. Bring your own cup when you go to Starbucks, I'm sure they'd be happy selling you a souvenir cup to use over and over again.

10. They've invented a better light bulb! Get some!

I'm not an environmental fanatic, but these are small things that save you money and the earth at the same time. If more people made small behavioral changes, they would go a long way towards saving the planet. Happy Earth Day!

There's a Congress Still, Right?

John McCain is going to cut $300 Billion in taxes he says, and pay for it with spending cuts. Barack Obama is going to raise taxes on all those making over $200 thousand a year. The Democrats will pull troops out without thought to what's going on on the ground, and the McCain will keep them there for eons until victory.

These are the promises of the campaign season. And most voters know they are nonsense.
Candidates don't acknowledge is that huge domed building down the avenue from the White House called the Capitol. Its where Congress works, writing legislation, then passing or striking it down. The candidates pretend, and would have voters to believe, that their legislative agenda happens in a vacuum and is never to be compromised with the Congress.

Of course, the American people intrinsically understand that the legislative process is a meat grinder. They may not think about it actively at the moment but when they hear a ridiculous promise, or a pie-in-the-sky measure they don't hang their hat on it because they know somewhere down the line Congress does step in. Congress might not be able to get things done, but there is one thing they are exceptionally good at making things NOT get done. This is, by the way, on purpose. Changing the laws should be a difficult thing to do, and our system ensures that is the case.

That's why we end up "voting our gut." It's also why we vote on personality and a feeling we get. It's a perfectly fine way to select a candidate by the way. Because we know their agenda is not going to be met. We are trying to measure instead how we think these candidates will deal with pressure, and how they will deal with people who disagree with them. Can they convince you their hair-brained scheme is better than the other guy's? If so, maybe they should be the big chair. So I say bring on the sniper fire, the bitter comments, hell lets even bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb Iran, let the American people see you warts and all, so we can pick which of you should run this place for the next four years.

Stop Calling my House Hillary!

In the past week I've been called over ten times by both the Hillary and Barack campaigns. ON Sunday, Bill Clinton descended upon Milford Pennsylvania to pump up his wife's campaign in Northeastern Pa, and for some reason, I could care less. I'm so burnt out that I just want it all to be over, and I'm not just talking about the Pennsylvania primary. I want the whole shebang to be finished so I'm taking this opportunity to plead with Hillary supporters, vote for Barack, Please! It's going to take a double digit victory tomorrow for Hillary to continue with genuine strength and anybody who knows Pennsylvania will tell you that it all comes down to voter turnout. If Hillary can draw out crowds in the industrial sector and the Northeastern corner, then she has a chance. Analysis of the past elections will show you that voter strength is in it's urban centers of Philly and Pittsburgh. It appears that Philadelphia will go overwhelmingly for Obama, so Hillary will have to pull big numbers in the "Red" parts of the state. I'm sure she's hoping that all the tricks she's pulling out of the Karl Rove playbook will work. As for this independent voter, I'll be home in this closed primary praying and wishing to Jesus that the Democrats can stop handing this election to McCain, cause I don't know if I can handle four years of the straight talk express. We had one Maverick in the White House, I think we need a parliamentarian. 

Do You Smell What Barack Is Cooking?

One night before the PA primaries, the candidates are laying the smackdown on WWE's Monday Night Raw. Here's an amazing/embarrassing preview. Then again, Ric Flair was given props in congress the other day. Maybe it's a trend. WOOOOO!!!

Clinton Logic: Don't Vote for Hillary

If you say you should choose hope over fear...and if your wife is running fear-based advertising...then by your own statements, President Clinton, you should choose the other candidate.

We Can Solve It...Tomorrow...

Recently, I criticized Al Gore's "We Can Solve It" campaign's first ad as a weak call to action. Now, it kooks like I've got some support from AdAge's reviewer Bob Garfield.

In Bob's campaign review, he makes a fascinating point. Sure, we came together solved/accomplished all the things the first ad promises...but we did it after years of dilly-dallying. The ad claims, "We Didn't Wait." But, we did! Garfield writes:

"We did wait to invade Europe; we waited five years. We did wait to commence the space program; we waited for the Russians to start first. We did wait to confront racial injustice; we waited 180 years. What is the point of making heroic comparisons if the comparisons don't scan?"

And, if President Bush's speech last week on global warming is any indication, we will continue to wait.

Garfield concludes by applauding the Pelosi/Gingrich spot, but questioning the Sharpton/Robertson spot I just posted. He writes, "polar opposites, yes, but also demagogic scoundrels both." Looks like the "We Can Solve It" campaign needs to solve its messaging if it hopes to have any real impact in solving the bigger problem.

Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson Go To The Beach

Here's the first of two posts today on the "We Can Solve It" campaign I've been following (that's the $30 million ad campaign lead by Al Gore to fight climate change). Here, at last, are the two ads featuring political polar opposites: Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson, then Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich. My big question is, why are Al and Pat chillin' on the beach? Is that like the Neutral Zone for religious ideologues? If so, sign me up!

Al and Pat at The Beach



Nancy and Newt at The Capital

The Clinton Campaign Media Guide

Philly.com blogger Dick Polman writes this hilarious, though far-fetched media guide to post Pennsylvania spin.

Some Government Ratings Actually Work.

As a lighting designer, energy policy and concerns continue to creep their way into our everyday decisions. I view this as a good thing, as good light should also be energy effecient light. The United State Green Building Council created its LEED certification program as a tax-incentive program for buildings to become more environmentally friendly. A recent study concludes the program is working and may be able to provide the first business-sense arguments for energy effieciency in building standards.

LEED buildings rent for higher prices per square foot and are enjoying higher demand than the average market square-footage.

When they lose we all lose, when they win, well.....

George Will provides a great column today on why the Fed is over-stepping it's bounds as a financial institution. He makes a perfect argument against government intervention and corporate welfare, take a look.

Why John McCain Should Be Worried

Common discussion these days is that the real beneficiary from the fight between Clinton and Obama is John McCain. He, in fact, should be worried about the trends of the race. While its true the protracted campaign has certainly taken is toll on all the candidates involved. The numbers are trending toward the democrats. The registration numbers in Pennsylvania are but one indicator. So are the cross over registrants. You can even look to the Neilsen ratings for the last Democratic debate (which trumped all previous debates and only lost to American Idol on the night) to see the country's interest is trending leftward. All of this is not to say a Democratic party win in November is inevitable. Its only to say that while McCain gets to sit in his perch and snipe, he doesn't have an even share of the spotlight, and that should worry him more than encourage him.

UPDATE: A quick read of Politico this morning has this article about Penn. voter registration and turn out, check it out.

And another read provides this update on McCain's fund raising situation.

Handicapping the Pennsylvania Race

Common punditry is telling the world that Hillary Clinton needs to win
the primary in Pennsylvania tomorrow by at least double digits to have
a "credible" win. Let me just blog it right now. Any Clinton win, no
matter the margin keeps her in the race. The only thing that could
possibly end the primary race tomorrow is an Obama win.

There are a few reasons. After the Texas primary Hillary Clinton was
pronounced the winner and gained a big stake in media momentum.
However, when the results of both the primary and the caucuses were
calculated, Barack Obama came out with more delgates. The media is not
going to wait here either. A win, by any more than five points keeps
the Clinton campaign alive with another primary win.

The other reason is that the Clinton camp, particularly the candidate
herself feels a moral imperative to continue on. Whatever the private
motivations are, the Clinton campaign is not in a position to quit yet.

Don't let that minimize the importance of Pennsylvania though. While
the flow of super delegates toward Obama continues and is likely to,
he needs to show he is competitve in a state with the diversity and
political complexity of Penn. If he cuts it close super delegates will
be much more inclined to throw their support behind him.

Happy voting Keystone State.

The Dream Team

Alright some blogs have football or baseball pools, or name your all-time dream NBA team. At Policythought, because we're rocket dorks. I ask you all to check out MY dream cabinet. It's Bipartisan, full of all-stars and impossible. But take a look make your choices in the comments section. Yes I included Hillary Clinton for the department of health. I honestly couldn't think of someone better to run it.

VP-Colin Powell
Sec. of State-Bill Richardson
Department of Treasury-Mitt Romney
Sec. Def-Robert M. Gates
AG-John Edwards
Sec. Interior-Mike Huckabee
Department of Commerce-Mike Bloomberg
Department of Labor-Joe Biden
Department of Health-Hillary Clinton
HUD-Chris Dodd
DOT-
DOE-Al Gore
Dept. Education-Sen. Ed Kennedy
VA-
Homeland Security-Rudy Giuliani

He should have thrown out the first pitch.

The Pope has concluded his first journey to the USA. I don't think its too much to reveal that I am a catholic, born and raised. I even spent 12 years in catholic private school. Yet, I felt no special passion or even particular interest in the papal visit. Clearly this wasn't the case for the hundreds of thousands that clamored to see his holiness. This Catholic wasn't one of them. People see the Pope or any religious leader for myriad reasons. I don't mean to attack anyone's faith, or the Pope in particular. However, its not what I knew the Pope would say that kept me away, its what I knew he wouldn't say. He apologized for the child-abuse scandal that rocked the church here in the US, which was to be expected. He reminded us of the catholic belief that life begins at conception and we need to fight abortion. He even called for the catholic faith to take a role in our public decision making. But what did he not say? He didn't set an agenda for how catholics, American or otherwise, can actually effect positive change in the world. He didn't ask catholics to help stamp out AIDS in Africa, or combat hunger (say reducing worldwide hunger by 50% by 2030). He essentially fought against the turning tide of American culture and told catholics to keep the faith. But this is not an ultimately positive message. An affirmative message is about things that can and should be done. The Pope had a chance this week to challenge American catholics to make the world a better place, and set concrete goals to do so. Instead he told we should try to prevent wars and protect unborn babies. He could have said that from the Vatican and saved a flight and a few traffic jams.

National service

Is now the time to institute national service? I don't mean two years
in the army for the right to go to school. I mean two years of
national service. That might mean in the military, but it could also
mean building houses along the gulf coast, or creating green spaces in
urban environments. In short there are countless ways we can foster a
sense of national service across the country, without the
radioactivity of a national military draft.

I think one of the reasons there is so much apathy toward politics
(and so much enthusiasm for the Obama campaign) is that young
Americans are actually frustrated by not being called into service.
After 9/11 we were told to go shopping, when the Iraq War became issue
#1 we were told that there would be little by way of national
sacrifice, our taxes wouldn't even go up. Now we face gas running
towards $4 a gallon and the president hasn't even asked Americans to
car pool.

While the population has been told to ignore the issues of a
generation while those older and wiser take care of it, all of those
probelms have gotten worse. This has created a deep-seeded desire for
our generation to actually get out there and solve a problem or two.

I wonder if there is a presidential candidate with the backbone to
make it part of their agenda.

Reflections on a spring day

For one moment I forgot about all of it. I forgot that we were
different. We ate together, played together, made music together.
Nothing that divides us came to me. As I looked up at the trees
surrounding us, one in particular propping me up- I thought to myself.
"I hope we never lose this."

Then I realized. If we don't change. We will.

Will it still be called Citi Field?

The Washington Post reports today, that Citigroups lost $5.1 billion after writing down more worthless assets. The company is continuing to restructure and realign its assets, announcing lay-off for 9,000 more workers.

To our economists out there, have we seen the bottom? Policymakers are considering further action to help the financial system rebound. I believe they should do nothing.

Takes?

Political Blogs Lean...Libertarian?

So, a friend of mine asked me last night, since she is not a Democrat, why I asked her to join our "wacky commie liberal fan club" and read this blog. Now, though this blog tends to lean a little to the Left, I would contend that we have our share of conservative/moderate posts. At the same time, serendipitously, research revealed this morning that blogs in general actually are not predominantly liberal...they're Libertarian!

According to the BIGresearch Simultaneous Media Survey, Political blogs are becoming increasingly common, especially in this election year, where 24.6% of registered voters say they regularly or occasionally blog. Political affiliation of regular/occasional Bloggers look like this in 2008:

• 37.6% of Libertarians regularly/occasionally blog
• 26.9% of Democrats
• 25.7% of Independents
• 22.9% Republicans

So this says a few things to me. Firstly, we at Thinking About Policy Over Politics (or ThinkPOP as I like to sometimes call it) are actually part of a significant movement of people who are using the Internet for the other POP: "politics over porn." It also means that though Republicans sit at the bottom of the list, pair them with Libertarians and the political blogosphere leans decidedly toward the conservative(ish). So, are blogs part of the "liberal media agenda?" Doesn't seem so. Though, as a commie liberal fan, I'm wearing my Leon Trotsky hockey jersey today. He played for the Red Wings, of course.

Obama Channels Jay-Z

Watch the following clip. The digs at Clinton and the general lightness of the remarks aside, about 2:30 in Obama channels Jay-Z....

Brooks: Obama the man, no more myth or legend

David Brooks sets Obama in his sights today with a column on how far he has plummeted back to earth with his campaign rhetoric. The same columnist that once penned Run Barack Run now seems disillusioned as the campaign grinds along.

Obama has certainly looked more mortal than he did at the height of the "Yes, We Can!" era. Oprah came down from her pop-culture mountain top and proclaimed him "the one." The world was convinced that America was going to elect it's first black president. But the political meat grinder, sharper and with more blades than ever has pulled Obama into the fray. It took a year and more media attention that perhaps any primary season in history to make it happen.

The question now is how does he strike the balance? How does he convince a jaded public "yes we can!" while fending off attacks about Jeremiah Wright, and calling people bitter. The answer comes in maintaining the positive campaign narrative he established. Reminding us that we want and need a president that can mobilize the nation's young and intelligent, that can engage congress, and reform the way our government works.

Then remind us all that he is the only one that can do that.

Mitt Romney is No Margaret Cho

There is a pervading stereotype that conservatives aren't funny/good comedians. Mitt Romney has only lent more weight to that assertion. Romney made a surprise cameo at Wednesday night's Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner, where he delivered a "Top Ten" list of reasons why he dropped out of the presidential race. Most of these fall flat, except #4 which is beautifully self-deprecating and absurdly wonderful. But, I'll let you be the judges as to whether this routine gets Dane Cook's superfinger or just a big thumbs down.

10. There weren't as many Osmonds as I thought.

9. I got tired of corkscrew landings under sniper fire.

8. As a lifelong hunter, I didn't want to miss the start of the varmint season.

7. There wasn't room for two Christian leaders.

6. I was upset that no one had bothered to search my passport files.

5. I needed an excuse to get fat, grow a beard and win the Nobel prize.

4. I took a bad fall at a campaign rally and broke my hair.

3. I wanted to finally take off that dark suit and tie, and kick back in a light-colored suit and tie.

2. Once my wife Ann realized I couldn't win, my fundraising dried up.

1. There was a miscalculation in our theory: "As Utah goes, so goes the nation."

Quick hit: Retail Politics

I'm out on the streets in NYC and a question for our readers popped
into my head. Bill Clinton has been caught in so many "youtube"
moments this election cycle. Most have them have been local events
that have been caught on tape and posted for all to see. I wonder do
"retail" politics really exist anymore? Does the axiom of "all
politics is local" really hold true when you are always on a national
stage?

I invite comments on this as we New Yorkers never get much "local"
attention from presidential candidates.

Speaking of Evil Empires: Microsoft Goes Mega-Lame

Yesterday, I took Wal-Mart to task for trying to pass off consumerism as environmentalism and sustainabile business practices. AKA: Being B.S. artists. Now, hot on the 'Mart's shitheels comes what's been labeled in some circles as the lamest/lowest point in Microsoft marketing and development history. This terrible, awful internal sales video goes to show that big companies put the shine on touchy subjects (ie: the utter failure of Vista) just as much for internal constituents as they do for consumers. Yes, this is real. Yes, if you stare too long you may end up like the Germans at the end of Raiders of The Lost Arc.

Reaction: 28%??? That's still an A right?

I just wanted to post a quick response to our Reader submitted post.

While I agree with the need for more local civic involvement (especially of younger people). I think Bush is feeling the brunt of America's dyspeptic sentiments because most of our issues are Macro versus Micro.

The issues roiling most Americans today are not those of the 80's and 90's, when crime (for instance) was the topic most Americans saw as their chief issue. Crime might have been seeing a rising macro-trend, but it is dealt with largely on the micro scale. It's pushing your local police department into action, organizing community watches, giving troubled youth something to do with their time besides graffiti. It's an example of a localized issue.

The problems Americans are worried about are macro-issues. The economy as a whole, the cost of college education, the cost of health care, the war in Iraq, national security, the cost of energy, and global warming. These are issues that we can encourage our local officials to take up, but can't really be addressed on the micro-level. President Bush has failed to really attack any of these issues in a meaningful way.

Reader Submitted: 28%??? That's still an A, right?

The following post was submitted by a policythought reader, Adam H. He brought it to us via our email address policythought@gmail.com...wanna get something out there, email us or check us out on facebook. If its well-written and in the spirit of what we like to blog on here, it'll get posted. Thanks, and keep your emails coming!


I am going to bring up a touchy subject to a good 72% of the United States. That is President Bush and his astronomically low approval rating. It may or may not surpise you to learn that Bush is lower than all previous presidents in the past 50 years with the exception of Truman (kaboom!) and Nixon (would you like impeachment with that?). You can take a look at a Wall Street Journal graph linked below.

Now I think Bush would be at this level even without the Iraq war if only for the dismal economy. I think Carter's low approval rating is the case in point there. Now my question for you is why do we so closely tie the welfare of our country to a single individual?

What about all those Senators and Congressmen and women who you (hopefully) voted for in your last local election? More importantly what about your local government who you probably did not vote for?

I think we give the good old commander-in-chief way too much credit. When it comes to foreign policy, this guy (to this point) does lead us into the fray with some mitigation by other elected officials. But, I think we need to be putting a fine tooth comb to our local governments as well.

Not to shine through any libertarian ideals here, but your day-to-day is definitely impacted more by the local schlubs at townhall. What about your local economy, education, transportation, etc. Since when did the federal government become the be all and end all of providing our needs or at least misinterpreting them?

Just a little food for thought. I'm sure some of you will decry the supremity of the Federal Reserve, the FDA and the SEC, but I would take a closer look at your local business development, public health department and chamber of commerce. So next time you feel like complaining about the All-American whipping boy, our president; think about attending a county comission meeting instead. If nothing else you can hear a crazy guy decry the end of the world and an old lady complain of noise violation during the public address section.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html

BTW: There was a Debate tonight

Senators Clinton and Obama had another verbal slap-fight tonight--otherwise known as the debate hosted by ABC news.

Policythought's take? Obama got treated like the front-runner. He got grilled on the hot topics of the day and his personal hiccups. Clinton broke no new ground, but didn't lose any either.

In fact, neither candidate gave a break-through performance tonight. If you felt nervous about an Obama presidency before tonight, you likely still feel that way. If you are distrustful of the Clinton campaign, nothing tonight would sway you. Both candidates seemed to play within their margins.

If there is a take away from tonight you can say this. Hillary Clinton seems to believe in her solutions. She gave smart, straight-forward answers to economic policy questions. She believes in her knowledge and capability to answer the nation's problems. Obama represents a different kind of leadership. You get the impression not so much that it's his answers that are correct, but that he wants to find the correct ones.

In the end, there is a sense that Obama would work for a coalition of forces in government--a coalition that would force both sides to listen, argue, and come up with viable solutions. Clinton's approach is more top-down. She believes her proficiency in crafting policy is the solution we need. It is worth noting, however, that the President does not craft and pass law individually. They have to work with Congress, which means both Republicans and Democrats. So perhaps the question we should be asking (and forcing candidates to answer) is who is best suited to do that dirty work?

Big Love on CNN!

I had to pull out the popcorn for Anderson Cooper's broadcast on Tuesday and Wednesday night when the embattled Polygamists took to the cameras to do a little PR work for the FLDS compound. While the acting was far better than Bill Paxton, I thought it fell woefully short of winning an Emmy for best supporting role in the "Sister Wives Weep for Lost Children Category." Citing Constitutional guarantees such as freedom of religion and other personal liberties several of the women ceased to see the hypocrisy of imprisoning teenagers and / or forcing them to marry men that are two/three times their age. Or perhaps they believe that making 14 year old women marry and have sexual relations is part of a  "wonderfully pure life." When it comes to religion I have always taken a "to each their own" approach, but when any religion be it Catholic or Mormon violate and abuse children sexually, I take issue with that. In my opinion, (and yell at me if you disagree) freedom of religion only goes so far in certain cases. Religion cannot and should not protect individuals who commit heinous crimes. If that is the case every sex offender in the United States could just join some cult that protects perverts and have carte blanche to do whatever they desire. Kudos to both Fox News and CNN for keeping this story in the news in a time where I'm getting sick of "Bittergate".